@whoresoftheinternet I deleted your comment because it looked Moby to me. That kind of material will be used against me -- unfairly, perhaps -- and that might be your intent, which comes within my "bad faith" policy.

Pretty clever. It both acknowledges the problems a major Obamacrat (who is ostensibly a friend to Unions) is having with a Union that's being unreasonable... and it makes Ryan seem fair minded, able to cross the aisle and what-not.

Fine, you're afraid of being called a racist because of what I wrote. Fair enough---its your blog and racism---especially racism against blacks---is a career-killing charge in this leftist-created world.

But its not a Moby comment. Statistically, this is very likely to happen. It is the truth. Denying reality is how the left wins. And shutting people down who try to un-deny reality is one tactic.

Good. R/R have been pretty good at staying in front of these things, rather than allowing your opponent to define the parameters of their response. Medicare, New Orleans, and now education reform.

The last two paragraphs are interesting. The reporter seems to strain for a reason to insert how much the donors paid for the event. And she seems rather perturbed that Ryan left for another campaign stop and "declined to repeat the comments." Those would be the comments he just said, that they just heard and wrote down?

"If Romney/Ryan had real nerve, and real intent to cut spending, they would be talking about shutting down the Department of Ed."

They ought to. It would undoubtedly be a drop in the bucket but education should be as local as possible and there is no reason whatsoever that States can't take care of their own sh*t. Roll the Ed budget into NASA so that our budding rocket-scientists have a dream and a goal to shoot for.

Ryan's statements were good ones. The quote is really *good*. Can't tell his tone of voice, but it seems to hit the right notes. He doesn't pretend that he'll ever be anything but Rahm's opponent, but that some things aren't about who's on the other side.

I wouldn't repeat the comments either. Reporters just want to try to get something juicier than you said the first time.

Teachers unions put Democratic big-city mayors in an impossible position. Their constituents are increasingly fed up with costly yet low-performing public schools, but it's hardly a secret that all too many Democrats have sold their souls to the public-sector unions.

Mayor Emmanuel's problem is that he's probably picked a fight he can't win. The CTU will prolong the strike until the pressure to settle becomes unbearable; then, Emmanuel to cave.

Which will probably wreck Emmanuel's political career (outside of Chicago, anyway). BUT he's going to get precious little support from his fellow Democrats.

BTW, according to the Chicago Tribune, these are the three big issues (which I'd summarize as, "We demand high pay/benefits with low accountability!"):

SALARIES AND BENEFITS. The district offered 16 percent increase over four years and "modified step increases that both reward experience and provide better incentives for mid-career teachers." The union said it's closer on pay but is still concerned about rising health care costs and other benefits. Teachers sought a substantial raise in the contract's first year because of the longer day and want to keep raises for experience.

JOB SECURITY. The union has pushed for a system to recall teachers who have been laid off when new openings occur. This has become important because of rumors the district plans to close up to 100 schools in coming years. The district says teachers displaced by school closings will be eligible for a job at new schools if there is a vacancy — or may elect to take a three-month severance.

TEACHER EVALUATIONS. The union wants to lower how much student performance contributes to evaluations. CPS has said the new evaluation system, created in collaboration with teachers, was negotiated and settled in March under state law.

Brilliant. I thought of the Obama-steps-in angle, but it didn't occur to me that Ryan's support for Emanuel could be anodyne. Perhaps now Chicago's overpaid teachers can accept their ridiculously generous raise and slink off into the sunset.

... you know what would be A-grade entertainment? Scott Walker calling up Rahm and offering his support and advice.

yes! This must be done. Pundits need to jump on this to show that the dems themselves are held hostage to the unions who are eminently unreasonable. And curtailing their excesses is in fact or should be a bipartisan excercise.Either that or Rahman should be pitted against Obama over who has the correct position over how to deal with unions Obama or Rahm. If Obama sides with Rahm , then he nd Rahm are no better than Scott Walker. If Rahm gets thrown under the bus, then all the better. I would love to watch a bit of intercoms warfare within the democrat party.

Repubs - here's a lesson for you that you should take to heart- MAKE THEM LIVE UP TO THEIR OWN RULES.

When Rham faced a budget battleThere were students not too brightThere were teachers for our timeWho were promising to fightThey would stand up City HallAs they marched both to and froAnd now they're marching to the callTo teach all Chicago!

We will strike for benefits and pay!Cause we wants what we wants, and we wants it all todayWe will strike for benefits and pay!We gots to keep moving ahead, all the way, for benefits and pay!

They took on requirementsThat caused the union folks to strikeAgainst city governmentsWith rules they did not likeEvaluations; cut the fat(only metaphoric'ly)And unions said they didn't like thatSo a strike was destined be!

We will strike for benefits and pay!Cause we wants what we wants, and we wants it all todayOh no we can’t go back again. We gots to keep moving ahead for benefits and pay!Benefits and pay, our new reason for our strike!

we are proud of our benefits and payWe can never, ever, never let it dropWe got to keep on and never stop

We will strike for benefits and pay!And we're not going back! No Way!We got to keep benefits and pay!